On NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) accused Republicans of offering a “hollow” solution to end the government shutdown, claiming the GOP’s proposal to reopen the government in exchange for a future vote on Obamacare subsidies lacks real guarantees.
Host Kristen Welker questioned Kaine about Senate Republican Whip John Thune’s offer: reopen the government first, then hold a vote on extending health care subsidies. Kaine dismissed the plan, citing a lack of commitment from Republicans in both chambers.
“Offering a vote in the Senate without a commitment that it would pass and without a commitment that the House would take it up is an empty offer,” Kaine said. He argued Democrats are focused on preventing health care costs from rising due to Republican-backed cuts to tax credits and Medicaid under the budget reconciliation process.
Kaine emphasized that Democrats are not only seeking to reopen the government but to secure immediate legislative action that would protect Americans from what he called spiking healthcare costs. “They know they need to fix this, so let’s fix it now,” he added, pointing to bipartisan recognition of the problem.
The Virginia senator also took aim at former President Trump, stating that Democrats are seeking assurances that any bipartisan agreement won’t be undermined later. “A deal is a deal,” Kaine said. “We don’t want him firing thousands of people, canceling economic development projects and canceling public health funds.”
Republicans have argued that a clean continuing resolution is already on the table and that Democrats are refusing to move forward due to internal divisions and political gamesmanship. GOP leaders say health care subsidy negotiations should come after reopening the government to ensure critical services resume and federal workers receive pay.
The standoff leaves tens of thousands of federal workers without pay, with both parties locked in a battle over spending priorities and the future of healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
